Board of Parks Commissioners Meeting

Norman Board of Parks Commissioners September 5, 2019 The Norman Board of Parks Commissioners of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met in Council Chambers on the 5th day of September, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. and notice and agenda of the meeting were posted at 201 West Gray Street, 24 hours prior to the beginning of the meeting. ITEM 1, being: ROLL CALL Present: Chair Wright and Commissioners Favors, Moxley, Sallee, and Salmond Absent: Commissioners Dolan, Isacksen, and Starke (one position vacant) City Officials Present: Jud Foster, Director of Parks and Recreation Jason Olsen, Recreation Superintendent Wade Thompson, Parks Superintendent Karla Sitton, Administrative Technician IV ITEM 2, being: APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 1, 2019 MINUTES Commissioner Sallee made the motion and Commissioner Moxley seconded to approve the minutes. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chair Wright and Commissioners Favors, Moxley, Sallee, and Salmond NAY: None ITEM 3, being: APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Commissioner Salmond made the motion and Commissioner Favors seconded to approve the agenda. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chair Wright and Commissioners Favors, Moxley, Sallee, and Salmond NAY: None _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 4, being ANNUAL PRESENTATION FROM THE NORMAN YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION Mr. Mark Whitman, President of the Norman Youth Soccer Association (NYSA) presented the annual report to the Board and submitted financial reports prior to the meeting. He said NYSA’s Mission Statement is “To encourage, promote, and stimulate interest and participation in the game Park Board Regular Meeting Page 2 of 4 September 5, 2019 of soccer by organizing recreational and competitive soccer teams; developing our players, coaches and referees; promoting sportsmanship; maintaining proper playing facilities; and operating in a financially responsible manner.” Mr. Whitman said NYSA’s goals, specific to this year, are focused on youth player participation, coach licensing initiative, fundraising, and applying for the US Club Soccer Players First TM club designation. Mr. Whitman said NYSA offers three youth soccer leagues which currently have about 3,000 participants. He highlighted the soccer leagues at NYSA to include: • Recreational: offered to boys and girls ages four to eighteen years old; consists of a fall season that will begin on September 7th and a spring season that will begin in March 2020; • Academy: developmental league offered to U7 to U10 boys and girls; players train with professional coaches and compete against Academy teams in other soccer organizations; • Competitive: offered to U11 to U19 boys and girls; annual tryouts are held in late Spring/early Summer each year; train with professional coaches and compete against Competitive teams in other soccer organizations; • Adult: offered to adults as a fundraising project; has about 180 players; and will begin in September; and • Tops: offered to disabled boys and girls enrolled in the Norman Public School system; a fall and spring season is offered and played on Sunday afternoons; a special education teacher runs this league with volunteers from NYSA players and parents. Mr. Whitman said NYSA operate several tournaments as fundraising projects; however, they also provide our teams the opportunity to compete in a local venue as well as have an estimated $1.5 million economic impact to the City of Norman. He said Zaxbys Soccerfest is a recreational tournament scheduled for September 21 & 22 and last year it hosted 48 teams. First Fidelity Bank Classic Cup is a competitive invitational tournament scheduled for November 8-10, 2019 and last year this tournament hosted 180 teams. OSC Celtic Cup is an academy tournament scheduled for February 28th through March 1, 2020 and this tournament hosted 100+ teams last year. Total scholarship value is expected to exceed $80,000 for the 2019/2020 fiscal year. Mr. Whitman said NYSA issues approximately $16,000 in recreational scholarships each year and approximately $54,000 in academy and competitive scholarships each year. Member Moxley said NYSA’s financial records will be better in the fall due to the collection of Competitive Registration fees at that time and Mr. Whitman said that is correct. Member Salmond asked why the maintenance fees went from $122,500 last fiscal year to $132,206 this fiscal year and Mr. Whitman said as Griffin Park continues to develop and grow due to Norman Forward, costs will continue to increase. Mr. Jud Foster, Director of Parks and Recreation, said Field #5 at Griffin Park will not change for at least another two years; therefore, NYSA’s current budget should work fine and gives NYSA some time to prepare for additional maintenance costs. Mr. Whitman agreed and said more teams can play when there are more fields to play on; therefore, additional fields will be lucrative for NYSA. Member Favors asked if the bleacher structures will be covered and Mr. Steve Gillis, NYSA Complex Director, said yes, the Griffin Park Master Plan call for some covered bleachers as well as some of the plaza area will have shade areas. The Board acknowledged the report. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Park Board Regular Meeting Page 3 of 4 September 5, 2019 ITEM 5, being MISCELLANEOUS Mr. Jud Foster, Director of Parks and Recreation, introduced Mr. Wade Thompson to the Park Board stating he was the new Park Superintendent and began working this week, on Tuesday, September 3, 2019. The Board welcomed Mr. Thompson to the City of Norman. Mr. Foster said the last day Westwood Family Aquatic Center (WWFAC) was open for business was Labor Day (September 3rd) and it is officially closed except for swim team practice, lap swim and river walking. He said this was the second season for WWFAC and it appears to be even better than the first season. Member Salmond asked how the pool finished up for the season and Staff said numbers are currently being gathered. Mr. Jason Olsen, Recreation Superintendent, said he will bring the numbers to the October Park Board meeting and felt the numbers will be much better than last year. He said this year’s membership, including scholarships, was 6,500 compared to last year’s numbers which were 4,500. Mr. Olsen said this year’s swim lesson numbers as well as WWFAC concessions had more revenue compared to last year’s numbers/revenues. Mr. Foster said City Council approved the design contract on August 27, 2019, with Frankfurt, Short and Bruza (FSB) for the Senior Citizen Center, Indoor Aquatic Center and Multi-purpose Facility. He said the Senior Center Ad Hoc Group met on September 4th and the Indoor Aquatic/Multi-Sport Facility Ad Hoc Group will meet on September 19th. Bids were recently opened for the Ruby Grant Park Project and the value engineering is being worked on. Mr. Foster said the construction manager and design team are working to get the project within budget. Mr. Foster said the project budget is $6 million and it was over budget $1 million; however, the construction manager and design team has it within $200,000 at this time. He said the Ad Hoc Group will need to make priority changes to get it completely into budget. Mr. Foster said the Griffin Park Project Phase III construction has begun and includes a restroom facility, a plaza, and handicap and disabled changes to the existing parking lot. Staff said the Reaves Park Ad Hoc Group isscheduled for a September 11th meeting to discuss changes that are needing to be made to the original park plan due to budget issues. Mr. Foster said the City recently took over the CART bus services and the design team contracted for the future Park Maintenance Facility is working on designs to combine/add a Bus Maintenance Facility to the construction plan. He said the combination facility will be located at North Base on Flood Avenue just south of the Fleet Division Facility. Member Moxley suggested Staff have the design team look at the recently constructed NAPA building, located on 24th Avenue between Main Street and Lindsey Street, which is a “tilt-up” construction. Staff said the design contract will probably be awarded to Howell and Vancuren for the Adult Softball and Baseball Facility that will be constructed at Franklin Road and 12th Avenue East. Chair Wright asked about the progress at Creekside Bike Park and Songbird Park and Mr. Foster said the park is nearly completed. He said Staff is working with homeowners that are adjacent to the park and conducting an extensive cleanup in the creek area. Mr. Foster said September 21st is a tentative ribbon cutting date for Creekside Bike Park and told the Board he would send out reminders as the date got closer. Mr. Foster said sidewalks are being poured and playground equipment will be installed soon at Songbird Park. Park Board Regular Meeting Page 4 of 4 September 5, 2019 Member Sallee asked whether Saxon Park will ever have another phase and Mr. Foster said yes, a significant phase is programmed as a Norman Forward project. He said he would need to check on when it is scheduled and update the Board. Chair Wright asked about the construction of the new Blake Baldwin Skate Park at Andrews Park and Mr. Foster said a public meeting was held on August 28th to gain public input. He said about 50 people were in attendance and a lot of enthusiasm and suggestions were giving to the contractor (ARC) and Staff. Member Sallee asked if there was an Ad Hoc Group for the Skate Park and Mr. Foster said no; however, Staff will schedule another public meeting in October and ARC will bring back design options to help determine what type of skate park the community envisions. Member Moxley asked if the City had a communication office/officer and Mr. Foster said yes, out of the City Manager’s Office. Member Moxley suggested the City communicate to and update the public about all the Norman Forward projects and Mr. Foster agreed. Mr. Foster said there are a couple of events scheduled for Friday, September 20th to include “Movie in the Park” at Lions Park and the Norman Philharmonic is playing at Legacy Park. Member Sallee asked if Staff intended on booking two separate events on the same date and Mr. Olsen felt the events attract different groups so both would be successful. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 7, being AJOURNMENT Commissioner Moxley made the motion and Commissioner Salmond seconded to adjourn. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chair Wright and Commissioners Favors, Moxley, Sallee, and Salmond NAY: None Passed and approved this ____________of ________________________ 2019 Kristi Wright, Chair